New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-17
CHABTTf VITHOUT CHARGE.

W ork similar 10 that OF HE ikibosh
Fresh-Air Fund is now conducted in London
under the auspices OF the School Board. In
1884 central Office was opened with thirteen
local committees for directing the tran fer oil
poor and ailing children TO cottages in the
country for a week or fortnight every sum
MGR. The work has prospercd. and there are
now thirty-two local organizations competent
TO deal with cases Of real suffering and urgent
necessity in any part Of London. There Is
one respect in which the Country Holidays
Fund as IL is known in London. differs from
cur own Fresh-Air Fund. Families there are
expected TO contribute something to the ex-
pensc Of the childrcn's outing. IL they are
very poor only sixpence week is asked
but ordinarily they pay mach more. at ieaSs
80 per cent of the expenses Of the fund beng
betrayed by parents and guardians OF poor
children. This rule is enforced in Difference
to the idea prevailing in England that 1t Is
not true charity to give freely to the poor.
The society insists upon receiving half rates,
or 80 rer cent, or at least sixpence, and
comforts Itself with the reflection that 1t Is
preventing the pauperizing of the parents by
over-gcnerous alms-giying,
The travelling expenses Of the London chill
dren are inconsiderablc, since they are sent
only short distances for their summer holi-
days Their board however, is paid for 1t
houses selected by the central society and " IL
censed- for the reception Of children The
uniform rate paid for board is i've shillings
week for a child, and families are charged
al the way from sixpence 10 four slnll ngs.
Very few children are sent out more than fifty
miles from the heart OF London, and their board
consequently is the principal item IN the cx
pense account The TRIBUNE Fresh-Air Fund
is more complete. whole soucd and beauti ful
CHARITY. The children are taken many hun
dreds Of miles away so as to have all the ad.
vantages Of real change of air. They ART
not distributed among " licensed children $
reception houses and charged for board ard
lodging, but are entertained as privileged
guests by hospitable families, and allowed &c
Ind out for themselves what the delights OF 4
Christian home are like. No board bills are
paid from the Fund, since none arc charged.
and hence there is no excuse for claiming q
rebate from the tenement families The good
friends OF the children who live in the country
and generously place their houses and farms at
the disposal Of their guests are entitled to the
satisfaction Of feeling that they are doing a
blessed work for sweet charity's sake, without
being compensated in part or whole for their
bencvolcncc The good friends Of the chill
dren, who live in city and suburb and con
tribute every year over $4,000 for travelling
expenses also claim the privilege OF dcfrsying
the whole cost of the annual excursions.
The TRIBUSE Fresh-Air Fund is doing in
its own quiet way great work as the
Country Holidays Fund, which has the power
full aid and patronage of the London School
Board. We think it is a more useful as well
as beautiful charity, since the benefits are con
fcrred without stint and restriction, and not
shilling is taken from the haId-earned wages
Of the parents. My children live on bread
and drippings," cried a London mother pite-
ousy when half rates were asked. - But you
do not get bread and drippings for nothing.
was the sharp reply of the manager of the
central office, as a siXpence week was taken
from the toiIworn hand. THE TRIBUNE's
circle of readers do not wish TO deal in this
way with the tenement children who are sent
away at their expense. 1t is pleasant thought
to many a generous man and woman in these
DAYS of inclement heat that for every three
dollars he or she has contributed some little
one is enjoying happy fortnight in green
fields and pastures new without expense to the
hard-w orlling people at home. Over 1000